Sherry, I have few problems with eating anything. Steak, fish, pork, chicken (dark meat, white is too dry), hamburgers (McD double cheeseburger), chips, whatever. I started with very soft foods like poached eggs, then on moist (with butter) slightly toasted bread, then on corned beef hash, and other soft foods. Then on to the normal stuff. My wife went crazy for a while cooking up all types of foods. When I couldn't eat it, my daughter finished it up for me. So at least we didn't have any waste. Ken will be able to do this soon, I would think, as he should be getting to that point.

My peg was removed about 5 months after rad/chemo and I had to be eating by mouth for 2 weeks before they would take it out. During that 2 weeks, the only thing I used the peg for was for water to keep it open and I took meds through it because I got bored with just water. I could take all of my meds (Tylenol, Nexium for my reflux, vitamins, etc.) by mouth, but used the peg for variety.

Ken might need to force things a little, just to get the swallowing thing started again, that's why I liked poached eggs so much. I had (and still have) problems with scrambled eggs because they are so dry, so I stuck to poached, soft-boiled, anything that maintained some moisture. Unfortunately, that dry mouth issue will always be with me, I think, though it is kind of getting better, I think. Not by much though.

As to the eating, it is a slow process, but eventually Ken will get it all back. I lost my taste, so eating is more of a chore than it used to be as there is very little taste and it was hard at first to eat as the appetite wasn't as good as it used to be, but that comes back as well and I eat now because I feel hungry, not just because I know I should to get the proper nutrition. Hope this helps. God bless.